My wife and I went sailing with that new rigging on May 23 th 2009. At shore I wasn’t sure about going sailing, because wind was F4 with F5 gale. We finally set-up and I used the electric motor to go windward, because we were hungry and I didn’t have the guts yet to sail! After lunch, figuring about wind condition (no change – gulp!) I decided to double reef mainsail, no change at mizzen sail. Then we began sailing on run (perfectly downwind) witch is a rather stable course. After a while I decided to broad reach and found it nice; after few minutes I change course to beam reach, then close reach and finally close hauled. To anyway situation sailing was good and exiting!!!! We sailed for close to 3 hours and were back home for supper time. Beside some minor adjustment, first sailing with new rigging was a total success! My wife an I are exited about our next sailing holiday. We expect going camping next summer.

Hopefully, this article may be helpful to canoe sailors and gives other the motivation of sailing their canoe or kayaks. Canoe sailing is pleasant; it’s car topable, light in weight, needs a bit of skill, takes only few feet of water, easy gets ashore when rudder and leeboards are lifted up. Set up takes about 40 minutes (mine at least!). It can hold 2 people and all camping gears and food. I always carry electric motor for short cruise and 3.5 HP outboard motor for longer cruise, they are helpful for fast access to shore when bad weather comes over, and convenient boating when going sailing windward is not desired or if you are in a hurry to come back.

Why not drive to Québec Province, Lake Teaurau (Toro), for summer vacations, and sail on this beautiful lake, and maybe learn few French words!!!!!!!

I wish to every canoe sailors, good wind and a lot of fun.

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